Vehicle-wheel.



C. V. POPP.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION msn APR. 11 19m.

Patented. May18, 1915.

O.. WASHINGTON, D. C4

par

CHARLES V. POPP, OF CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1915.

Application filed April 11, 1914. Serial No. 831,221.

T0 all whom t 'may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES V. Porr, acitizen of the United States, residing at Charleston, in the county ofKanawha and State of West Virginia, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Vehicle-Wheels, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in resilient wheels, proposing aconstruction of that type wherein the wheel proper is mounted to iioatrelatively to a iXed hub arranged on the axle and cushioning means areinterposed between said hub and wheel in such relation as to provideforthe ready yielding of the wheel in any direction radially of the huband to eliciently take up shocks consequent to the yielding of the wheelrelatively to the hub and restore the wheel to normal relation with theleast amount of counter vibration.

The objects of the invention are to provide a wheel of the type statedwhich shall eiiiciently discharge its shookabsorbing function, which isof strong and durable construction, and in which the operating parts areinclosed and protected and furnish strong resilient support for the hub.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, where- 1n:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section and partly broken away,showing a wheel in which the features of the invention are incorporated;Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the improved wheel.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts in both ofthe views.

The wheel proper includes a rim l, hollow spokes 2 and a ring 3 providedat the inner end of the spokes 2 and having openings which aline withsaid spokes. The rim 3, in effect, forms part of the hub, which inaddition to said ring, includes side plates 4 and 5 and a hub body 6confined between said side plates and mounted on the aXle 7. The sideplate 5 is arranged at the outer end of the aXle and is held in positionby a nut 8. The drawings assume that thevaXle 7 is a live or drivingaXle, in which case, the hub plate 4 is keyed upon or otherwiseconnected with said aXle so as to turn therewith and is utilized todrive the wheel through connections to be described.

The hollow spokes 2 serve as guides for plungers 9 which project we llinto said spokes and which also project inwardly beyond the spokes andcarry at their inner ends rollers 10 which take a frictionless bearingin a groove 11 encircling the hub body 6. The plungers 9 are engaged byeX- pansive coil springs 12 which take their bearing against the rim 1or the closed ends of the spokes 2 and which resist any movement of saidplungers inwardly of said spokes.

The hub body G is preferably of square or substantially square outline,its faces, however, being slightly concave. An equal number of plungers9 engages each of the faces of the hub body 6. Thus, the drawings assumetwelve spokes and there are three plungers 9 in engagement with eachface of the hub body 6. The pressure of the plungers against the hubbody is such as to cause the hub body to turn with the wheel and therelation between the hub body and the spokes is such that the wheel mayat all times yield consequent to its engagement with an obstruction orto sudden changes in the speed of the car in the direction of a radiusof said hub body. r1`he yielding action of the wheel relatively to thehub body is uniformly transmitted from spoke to spoke as the rotation ofthe wheel progresses and the number of springs which come into play inresisting the yielding action of the wheel is amply sufficient toprovide a. strong and relatively stable support for the suspendedweight.

The plate 4, when the wheel is mounted on the live aXle is, as abovestated, utilized to drive the wheel and the connections for this purposepreferably include radially disposed arms 20 which are pivotally mountedon said plate and rollers 13 arranged in pairson a ring 14 secured byclamps 15 to the spokes 2 and arranged concentrically to the rim 1. Thearms 20 are arranged between springs 16 which, in turn, take theirbearings against lugs 17 located on the plate 4 at each side of thearms; and each arm 20 projects between a pair of rollers 13. The arms 20transmit power from the plate 4 to the wheel proper but being yieldablymounted relatively to the plate 4 and constantly acted upon by thesprings 16, discharge their function without any substantial jarsconsequent to sudden changes in the speed of rotation of the aXle 7 Theplates 4 and 5 are provided with peripheral in-turned channels 18 whichoverhang the ring 3 and trap the oil which is used to lubricate theinner faces of said plates 4 and 5 and Valso to lubricate the plungers 9and hub body '6. The ring 3 is preferably faced with rubber at its innerside as at 19, which rubber facing or abutment engages the hub body 6 incase the jars are excessive and provides an additional cushioningagency.

Having fully described my ;invention, I claim 1. In a resilient wheel,in combination, a

wheel proper comprising a rim, hollow inner ends of the plungers todirectly engage the angular faces of said hub body, a like number ofplungers coacting with'each face of said hub body.

2. In a resilient wheel, in combination, a

wheel proper comprising a rim, hollow spokes carried'by the rim and aconcentric ring provided at the inner ends of the spokes, hub platesarranged at each side of and projecting beyond said ring, a hub bodyarranged between said plates and inclosed by saidV ring, plungersarranged within said hollow spokes, springs arranged within said spokesand tending to force the plungers inwardly, the inner ends of theplungers engaging against said hub body, one of the hub plates beingutilized to drive the wheel proper and yieldable power-transmittingconnections between said driving. hub plate and the wheelproper, Vtheconnections including pivoted radially disposed armsV mounted on saiddriving hub plate, springs acting uponsaid arms and rollers carried bythe wheel proper and arranged in pairs, each arm working between la pairof rollers.

3. In a resilient wheel, in combination, a

wheel proper comprising a rim and hollow spokes carried by the rim, anaxle, a hub body mounted thereon, in the plane of the wheel, the hub.body .having a plurality of angular faces of said hub body, a likenumber of plungers co-acting with eachof said angular faces of said hubbody.

In testimony whereofI have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses. Y

CHARLES V. POPP.

Witnesses; Y j

C. Rises, A. C. ONCUTT.

Copies of this -patent may be obtained forive centsV each, by addressingthe Commissioner ellis/cents,

.WashngtonLll C.

